High-efficiency operation of chemical oxygen-iodine laser using nitrogen as buffer gas

High-efficiency operation of supersonic chemical oxygen-iodine laser (COIL) with an advanced jet-type singlet oxygen generator using nitrogen as buffer gas was demonstrated. Laser output was remarkably increased when buffer gas was cooled with liquid nitrogen. The effects of buffer gas temperature on the characteristics of the oxygen-iodine laser medium was discussed. A net chemical efficiency of 23.4% was obtained at 405 W when the chlorine molar flow rate was 19 mmol/s.